Mourinho: City face worst Barca team for 'many years'

ESPN staff

February 18, 2014

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Barcelona are the latest target of Jose Mourinho's criticism after the Chelsea manager insisted Manchester City can progress to the Champions League quarter-finals by eliminating the worst Barca team for "many, many years".

In recent weeks, Mourinho has had public spats with both City boss Manuel Pellegrini and Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger.

But Mourinho has saved his latest tongue lashing for the club at which he was assistant manager for four years. In his three-year stint as Real Madrid, he was at constant loggerheads with their Spanish rivals.

In an interview with ITV, he said: "Of course, by history, Barcelona is the favourite, but this Barcelona, this season, is showing that it is not the same in previous years.

"Of course they have [Lionel] Messi, he is special, and they have more than him.

"But I think this is the worst Barcelona of many, many years - so City have a chance."

Barcelona top La Liga on goal difference, and have progressed to the final of the Copa del Rey, where they will face Madrid.

Mourinho's assertion also adds to the pressure for victory on Manchester City, who are competing on four fronts and have been repeatedly told by the Chelsea manager they have the best squad in the Premier League thanks to big spending.